Some staff of Federal Polytechnic Oko, have been trained on the rudiments of career counselling and coaching by the institution’s directorate of Career Services.
The two-day staff capacity building and training on career coaching which was sponsored by TETFund was attracted by the Rector, Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie.
The theme of the workshop is, “Discovering Career Paths in This Modern Age”
The career coaching training is the fourth staff capacity facilitated by the Rector for staff of the institution within one week.
Some staff of the Polytechnic had earlier been trained on Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions ( ADEPTI) sponsored by the NCC and conducted by the Digital Bridge Institute. Other staff were also trained at Nnewi on Quality Assurance Assessors (QAA) organized by the National Board for Technical Education and recently, the Rector also facilitated the deployment of select staff to the Innov8 Hub, Abuja for the Rigorous Research for Impact training sponsored by TETFund.
While declaring the career coaching workshop open, the Rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie represented by the Deputy Rector Administration, Dr. Kenneth Ezekwe said the training was in line with her 12 points agenda which consists of staff development and welfare programmes.
The Rector urged the participants to pay rapt attention during the training in order to be well equipped to coach students in their various departments.She commended TETFund for their various interventions in Federal Polytechnic Oko.
In his remarks, the Director, Career Services, Dr. Nwankwo Chioma explained that the directorate of Career Services is poised to offer career services to students, adding that careeer services include those activities that help to guide students to discover specific job positions that match their interests and abilities.
According to him, “This training is one step we want to take to actualise the above dreams. The career services centre staff are few to go round all the departments in school, hence the need to train trainers that will assist with the task.”
“We have selected you to be our career coaches in our various departments. We are also working with all the Heads of academic departments in order to achieve the same objectives”
Mr. Nwankwo appreciated the Rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie, the Director in charge of TETfund projects, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr. Helen Nnabuenyi and the entire management of the Polytechnic for their support to the career centre.
The lead facilitator, Prof Harry Obi-Nwosu who spoke on the topic , “fundamentals for effective operation of career office in a tertiary institution”, said the overall mission of the training was to make every graduate readily employable whether in government work, organised private sector or preferred entrepreneurial engagement and to also assist the students reach their full potentials.
Prof Harry who is also the director, Centre for Counseling and Career Development, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka however identified good communication, knowledge and acceptance of individual differences and passion for service as the major skills required of a good career officer of any institution.
In the second lecture, another facilitator, Nwonu Edith Ifeoma highlighted the import of career conversation which she said, helps the career coaches to uncover students interests, strengths, values and constraints to enable the officer give valuable direction.
The Deputy Rector Academic, Dr. Nkiru Akabuike commended the training and the Rector, Dr. Chioma Awuzie who she described as a trailblazer. She also pointed out the need to drill such training to secondary schools where students at that level will also be beneficiaries.
